[applause] >> with the election behind us and the fiscal cliff right in front of us, i think it's nice just to have an evening when we can focus on what is important, like whether molly ringwald is really here tonight. is she? i trust you all read "the new york times" piece this past week on how tonight is part of a close, visible makeover for the national book awards them article goes on to say the goal is to add more sex appeal to an industry that is not exactly known for it. and there will be signs everywhere of the aspirations to turn this once dowdy event into a glamorous party. from where i stand, looking out at your sexy, sexy faces,-you are post-dowdy. thank you. that's the drinking table. it's fun to tell jokes outside of new york that you're involved with the nba because people start can go you questions about what lebron and kobe are really like. it's really an understandable confusion because writers and professional ballers are incredibly similar. they're both wildly overpaid people, in peak physical condition. but the real similarity is this. both writers and basketball p